Tokyo New Year 2027: Countdown & Temple Bells

New Year 2027 arrives in Tokyo at midnight JST (UTC+9) on Friday, January 1, 2027, which is 15:00 UTC on Thursday, December 31, 2026.

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until midnight in Tokyo (JST, UTC+9)

Temple Bells 2027: Expected (annual event)

2027 event

Tokyo Temple Bells 2027

Expected (annual event) Joya no Kane, the ringing of temple bells 108 times on New Year's Eve, is on the annual calendars of Tokyo temples such as Zojoji and Senso-ji, which both begin at midnight; this year's schedules and ticket rules have not been published yet. Last year (New Year 2026) Zojoji sold a limited number of tickets to ring the bell (2,000 yen) from 1 December.

Event
Joya no Kane at Zojoji Temple
Type
Bell ringing
Where
Usually held at Zojoji Temple
When
Traditionally at 00:00 (JST)
Admission
Last year: free and ticketed areas
Organizer
Zojoji Temple

Official updates

Where to watch in Tokyo

  1. Zojoji Temple, Minato — Rings its bell 108 times from midnight, with Tokyo Tower behind the temple. At New Year 2026 the Sanmon gate was closed to pedestrians from 19:00 on 31 December for renovation, so check the temple's notice before you go.
  2. Senso-ji Temple, Asakusa — Members of the Hyakuhachi-kai strike the bell at Benten-yama from midnight, and the 108 strikes take about 40 minutes; visitors gather to listen and cheer at the first stroke.
  3. Meiji Jingu, Harajuku — Open all night on 31 December, with several million visitors between New Year's Eve and 3 January, according to GO TOKYO.
  4. Ikegami Honmonji, Ikegami — Time Out Tokyo reported that visitors could ring the bell for free at New Year 2026: 600 numbered tickets were handed out at the bell tower from 11 pm.

Getting there

  • Last year (New Year 2026) JR East scheduled overnight trains on six Tokyo-area lines, including the Yamanote Line from about 1:00 to 5:00 am at roughly 10 to 25 minute intervals.
  • Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway scheduled no overnight services last year (New Year 2026) and used Saturday and holiday timetables from 30 December to 3 January, according to Time Out Tokyo. Check each operator's notice for this year.
  • Zojoji's notice for New Year 2026 said visitor parking was discontinued from New Year's Eve to 4 January for safety, so plan to arrive by public transport.

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AT A GLANCE

Timezone
Japan Standard Time (JST)
UTC Offset
UTC+9
Midnight arrives
Friday, January 1, 2027 at 12:00 AM JST
Celebration order
4th of 37 cities to celebrate (same time as Seoul)

How Tokyo celebrates

Tokyo marks the New Year with Joya no Kane, a Buddhist bell-ringing ceremony in which temple bells across the city are struck 108 times to purify worldly desires and welcome the year ahead.

The 108 strikes — one for each bonno (worldly desire) in Buddhist teaching — are timed differently by each temple. Zojoji and Senso-ji begin at midnight, and Senso-ji's take about 40 minutes, while some temples start earlier in the evening. Meiji Shrine, Tokyo's most famous Shinto site, draws several million visitors between New Year's Eve and 3 January, according to Tokyo's official tourism site, for Hatsumode, the traditional first shrine visit of the New Year.

Tokyo's celebration is quieter than many Western cities. Families gather for osechi (traditional New Year dishes) and toshikoshi soba (year-crossing noodles). Younger crowds head to countdown parties in nightlife districts such as Shibuya and Roppongi, although Shibuya ward has cancelled its official New Year's Eve countdown near Shibuya Station every year since the pandemic and banned public drinking there from 6 pm to 5 am at New Year 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Will temple bells ring in Tokyo for New Year 2027?

Expected, but not yet announced. Joya no Kane, the ringing of the bell 108 times, is part of the annual calendars of Tokyo temples such as Zojoji and Senso-ji, and both begin at midnight. This year's schedules and ticket rules have not been published yet, so check the temples' websites in December.

Can visitors ring the bell at Zojoji on New Year's Eve?

Last year (New Year 2026) Zojoji sold a limited number of tickets for 2,000 yen from 1 December at 9:00 at its temple office, and people rang the bell in groups of four. The temple's New Year page says distribution had ended, and Time Out Tokyo reported the tickets sold out. Rules for this year have not been announced.

Is there a New Year's Eve countdown at Shibuya Crossing?

Not officially. Time Out Tokyo reported on 3 December 2025 that Shibuya ward had cancelled its Shibuya Station countdown for the sixth time, fenced off the Hachiko statue from 6 am on 31 December to 1 am on 1 January, banned public drinking from 6 pm to 5 am and had nearby convenience stores stop selling alcohol temporarily. Plans for this year have not been announced.

What time is New Year in Tokyo?

New Year arrives in Tokyo at midnight Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9). In 2027, that is 15:00 UTC on December 31, 2026.

How does Tokyo celebrate New Year's Eve?

Tokyo's celebration is more spiritual than festive by Western standards. Buddhist temples ring bells 108 times (Joya no Kane), families gather for special foods (osechi), and millions visit shrines for Hatsumode, the first visit of the year.

What is Joya no Kane?

Joya no Kane is the Buddhist New Year's Eve bell-ringing tradition. Temples ring their bells 108 times — once for each worldly desire in Buddhist teaching — to cleanse the old year's impurities and welcome the new one. Start times vary: Zojoji and Senso-ji begin at midnight, while other temples start earlier.

What time zone is Tokyo on New Year's Eve?

Tokyo is on Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9) year-round. Japan does not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Is Tokyo one of the first or last cities to celebrate New Year?

Among the 37 cities on this site, Tokyo is the 4th to reach midnight, at the same time as Seoul. At UTC+9, it celebrates relatively early in the global celebration window.

Where do people celebrate New Year's Eve in Tokyo?

A focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations in Tokyo: Zojoji and Senso-ji temples for the midnight bells, and Meiji Shrine for Hatsumode. See the where-to-watch list above for more places.

What time should I tune in to watch Tokyo's New Year celebration?

Midnight arrives in Tokyo at 12:00 AM JST (UTC+9) on Friday, January 1, 2027. The main moment of Joya no Kane at Zojoji Temple traditionally begins at midnight (00:00 JST).

What is Hatsumode?

Hatsumode is the Japanese tradition of making the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year. Meiji Shrine in Tokyo is the most popular destination, drawing several million visitors between New Year's Eve and 3 January, according to Tokyo's official tourism site. Visitors pray for good fortune, buy charms, and draw omikuji (fortune slips).

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This page provides a live countdown to New Year 2027 in Tokyo (Japan Standard Time, UTC+9). New Year's Day 2027 in Tokyo falls on Friday, January 1, 2027 at midnight JST. Tokyo celebrates with the Joya no Kane Buddhist bell-ringing ceremony, where temple bells are struck 108 times. Meiji Shrine draws several million visitors between New Year's Eve and 3 January for Hatsumode, the first shrine visit of the year, according to Tokyo's official tourism site.